Here are some of my best shopping tips, many of which hold true year-round:

1. Be prepared. Make a list, scour the Thanksgiving Day ads and map out a game plan using the rundowns of the best deals in my Bargainista holiday shopping headquarters. Also figure out a budget and pack a bag with the sales circulars, a portable phone battery charger and snacks, such as protein bars and drinks. (Treasure Coast Newspapers' Thanksgiving Day paper will be available Wednesday at participating retailers.)

2. Do your homework. Read reviews, know if the item you want is a good deal by doing a Google search.

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It’s almost that time of year for the shopping madness holiday known as Black Friday. But here are some of the holiday's fun facts you might want to know. Buzz60's Natasha Abellard has the story.
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3. Check prices online. Do this throughout the week, especially Wednesday and Thursday. Many store websites, such as BestBuy.com and Walmart.com, will offer doorbusters online and some sales start even earlier, with Kohls.com starting Monday. Some sales are available early in-store, too.

5. A big holiday season perk is free shipping. Major retailers offering free shipping on all orders include Amazon, Best Buy and Target. Other stores will lower free shipping thresholds as we get closer to Christmas, but consider choosing in-store pickup when it's available. Because there's always a chance an order can be cancelled, choose the method of getting the item fastest.

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Here's a look at are several free apps that can sniff out great deals, give you cash back, display coupons, or reward you in other ways for using them.
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6. Get in line early. This is important if you want an in-store-only doorbuster or other limited-quantity items. Consider bringing a lawn chair or cushion. Some stores give specials to the first customers. For instance, the first customers at J.C. Penney, which opens at 2 p.m. Thanksgiving, receive a mystery coupon, which will be $10 off $10, $100 off $100 or $500 off $500.

7. Use coupons and rewards programs. You can find coupons on store websites, mobile apps and in Thanksgiving Day inserts. Earn points and rewards with store loyalty programs which equate to money off a future purchase. Best Buy gives reward members early access to some deals and Target gives credit cardholders access to 100 select deals Wednesday.

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Scores of stores are waiting until Black Friday to open. However, even as that number grows, other stores are opening earlier Thanksgiving Day.
USA TODAY

8. Price match. Some stores will match competitors' advertised prices if they sell the identical item, but others, including Target and Best Buy, suspend price matching for Black Friday sales. For the stores that will allow price matching, many require bringing newspaper advertisements to the customer service desk and some allow you to match competitors' online prices.

9. Read store return policies carefully. Get gift receipts and keep your original receipt in case you need to return or exchange an item.

10. Save receipts for rebate items. And don't forget to mail in the rebates. Black Friday sales include some of the lowest prices of the year on small appliances such as coffeemakers, slow cookers and KitchenAid mixers. However, many of the best deals only are bargains because they include mail-in rebates.

11. Wear comfortable shoes. Also, dress for the weather, especially if you will be waiting for stores to open.

12. Be safe. Shop with a buddy and consider splitting up in-store to maximize your time, but go to the car together and at all times watch your personal belongings. Make sure to lock your car and keep purchases out of sight.

13. Be patient, polite and prepared for possible disappointment. Some people will push and shove and be nasty. Don't feed into their negativity, and always be courteous to store employees, some of who are mandated to work.